The former Southport court building is to reopen to the public for the first time for a special film screening as part of the Spookport festival.

The courthouse was closed in 2011 and is now used by marketing company Access Point who kept one court room completely in tact upon taking over the building in 2014.

Last year, the company allowed filmmakers from production company Two Headed Snake use the room to film Good Tidings, a festive horror movie which sees a group of people terrorised by Santa-clad monsters after taking shelter in an abandoned courthouse.

The film has since gone on to to feature at eight film festivals across the UK, US, Canada and Europe, even winning the Best Feature Award at the renowned Starburst Interational Film Festival.

The film will now play in Southport for the first time, giving horror fans the unique and eerie opportunity to watch the movie in the same room it was filmed. The event will also include a selection of horror shorts before the main feature,

Stu Jopia, who co-writer and producer of Good Tidings, said interest in the screening grew after the trailer was shared on Visiter.co.uk

He said: “The last few months have been spent on social media trying to get the word out on our movie, hitting up all the horror/genre magazines for support. This is the only real way of getting your indie film noticed. It's not like we have millions to spend on advertising. Indie cinema relies on the help of others to get the word out.

“The whole screening at the Courthouse came after the Visiter posted the trailer.

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"We got loads of great feedback from that and people asking about the project, especially the Spookport guys. They got in touch with me and wanted to know more, so I met with them, told them all about our movie and that we we're holding a screening at the actual courthouse for our cast and crew screening. They loved the idea and pitched me with an idea, that's the birth of it.

“We went to chat with Amanda Robertshaw of Access Point, the owner of the building about possibly adding two screening nights to the Spookport festivities. Amanda jumped at the idea as how cool it would be for the public to watch the movie inside the actual location it was set. Especially as the people of Southport haven't been inside the courtroom, well unless you got nicked!

“As a filmmaker all I ask for is that people see and enjoy the movie. And that's what's happening. Couldn't be more proud of our team Two Headed Snake.”

The screening will take place on October 22 and 23. Tickets cost £5.90 and are available here